and the realization that he could no longer lie to Irene began to overwhelm him. He was probably as close to panicking as he had ever been in his life. He looked at Jack and saw him having a conversation with Morton. Their faces were only inches apart. Em picked the seat next to Jack.
Jack turned around and said, “Pick any one you want! It’s just the four of us ’til we get to Alaska!”
Em didn’t know if he could stand to communicate this way for much longer. He hoped the noise would diminish when the ramp closed.
He heard creaks from the plane just before he saw the ramp begin to rise. Em felt like he was being nailed inside a coffin. He only hoped the feeling was temporary. The last part of the ramp latched, and the noise lessened at once. The noise level was still deafening if the earplugs were removed. It was tolerable when left inside the ears. When Em spoke, he could hear his own voice. “No turning back now, huh?”
“What would the rest of those knuckleheads think now? I bet no one thought we’d be on our way to Hawaii! They were all jealous because we were going to California! If they only knew!” Jack was already strapped in. He leaned as far back as the seat would allow. All in all, he looked rather comfortable. He never opened his eyes when he said, “Hey, Em! Where do you think Corb is now?”
Em closed his eyes and thought of his friend. Even though he could no longer think of getting through this war without his new best friend, Corby held a spot in his life that no one else ever would. He remembered the day they had left basic training.
*****
“You know I promised her I would look after you.” Corby looked at his friend and felt a lump in his throat. He could not cry. He just couldn’t. Em was really leaving. He had thought that they would stay together, at least for a little while longer. Now Em was going West, and he was going East. He was leaving tomorrow with Larry and several others from the flight. Six weeks in Biloxi, and then most assuredly, he would be going “over there.” Em and Jack were leaving today. In just a few minutes, Em and Jack were to be driven to the train station. As far as Corby knew, Em and Jack were the only ones who were leaving by civilian train. They were also the only ones leaving today. “Em, where exactly are you going?” Corby had a questioning look on his face.
“Somewhere in northern California. It’s some kind of school that works with new jet engines.” Em had told the lie so many times by now that it was almost habit. “You got my address, so you have to write. Seriously, Corb, you have to write. I know you haven’t written home much. You have to write to me.”
The two of them stood outside of the barracks near the laundry room. The activity around them was frantic. Ever since the invasion of France by the Allies, the action around the base was nonstop.
“Things really are crazy around here. Corb, listen to me. Don’t try to be a hero. I want us both to get home safe. I think the girls back home are going to look at you a little differently now.”
“I don’t care about that, Em. We have to win this war first, or those girls will be speakin’ German,” Corby said. Em knew that his friend meant every single word he was saying. His passion was apparent. Whatever team Corby was assigned to would benefit greatly because of him. Em could hardly believe the change in Corby. His acne had simply disappeared. He had gained at least twenty pounds, all muscle. The hair that was starting to grow on his scalp was no longer as red as it once was. It was now more of a brown. Corby had grown up. When they had arrived, he looked like a fifteen-year-old. Now he was beginning to look like a man. Em assumed the changes he was seeing in Corby also applied to him and the rest of the airmen in his flight. He even felt bigger and stronger. The changes that took place in just six short weeks amazed him.
“Hey. We’ll be leaving soon,” Em spoke out loud, but it didn’t sound like his own voice. Even his voice had grown up. The tone was a little deeper. Perhaps they had all grown up.
“Em,” Corby began, “I don’t know where you are really going, but I’m pretty sure you’ve been lying to me. If you can’t tell me, I understand. Only, if it’s dangerous, I expect you to tell me. You know you can trust me, and after all, we may never see each other again.”
“Shut up!” Em was startled by Corby’s words. “Never say that again because, when this is over, we are going back to Kentucky, both of us. And you are going to help me build Irene a house.”
Somehow, these statements made them both go all quiet. They just looked at each other, each with thoughts of home. They remained quiet for a few more seconds before Corby said, “Hey, Em, I’m kind of glad you are leaving today.”
Em looked at his friend and said, “What the heck do you mean by that?”
“Nothing personal, but if you don’t get Jack out of here soon, I’m afraid Larry might try something stupid again. He’s bent on revenge.” Em could not tell if Corby was serious or not.
“Corb, tell me something. What does Larry even think he can do to Jack? Jack would pulverize him in seconds. Is it all because of that day with the letter? I mean, the bloody nose was all Larry’s fault, right?” Em looked at Corby very sincerely and said, “I mean, if that’s all it is, then there is still hope of getting them to become friends, I think.”
“That’s not all, Em. Jack never leaves him alone. Every time that Jack has been near him lately, he has provoked him somehow. He calls him pip-squeak or just shadowboxes around him. He really gets to Larry in the worst way. I don’t think that Larry ever intends to be friends with Jackson Turner.” Corby told him all this. It surprised Em. He also told him that, just two days ago, Jack had approached Larry in the chow hall. He sat down at Larry’s table without being provoked. He then reached across the table and took Larry’s milk. He poured the milk onto Larry’s tray. He leaned in close to Larry’s face and whispered something to him. He spoke so low that only the two of them could hear. Larry refused to tell Corby later. Corby said that Larry had still not told him what Jack had said. Now, at the mention of Jack’s name, Larry turned a crimson shade of red.
Em could not believe this of Jack. He would try to make sense of it later. Right now, it looked as if he needed to say goodbye to his lifelong friend. Two jeeps pulled up to the side of the building. Sergeant Cannon jumped out of one of them. “I think that’s my ride.”
“Yeah. You better go get Jack. I’ll watch your stuff,” Corby assured him. Em turned slowly and proceeded into the barracks. As he entered the building, Jack was coming out. McAtee and Summerkamp had his bags and walked three paces behind him like a couple of servants.
“Set them over there, boys.” Jack had been spinning tales all week, and everyone was curious about where he and Em were going. “When I get to California, I will tell the girls all about you.” Jack had bragged about going to California all week. Every time someone countered with a story about Biloxi, Jack just made some sort of gesture of unpleasantness. He had everyone that was going to Biloxi convinced that it was a mosquito-infested swamp. He had the most amazing power of persuasion over people. He could talk a turtle out of his shell.
Sergeant Cannon finished talking to the drivers and started walking slowly toward them. “Well, this is it, boys. Are you ready?” When he noticed Corby, he asked, “What are you doing, Cookie? Shouldn’t you be getting ready yourself?”
“All packed, sir. Just seeing my boys off.” Corby was all business when any sergeant addressed him. The weeks of suffering through chow runner duties had trained him well.
Sergeant Cannon told Corby to load Em’s and Jack’s stuff into the jeep. When Corby walked away, loaded down so he would not have to make two trips,
